Update: See how the camera on the iPhone 4S compares with the one on the Xperia arc here.

We have assembled for you here a collection of pictures taken using the Nokia N9 and the iPhone 4S. Both shooters feature 8MP sensors and high-end optics. Nokia wowed us before with the epic 12MP sensor on the N8, will the N9 repeat the same success?

Based on the sample pictures that you will see after the jump, the answer is a disappointing no.

In every situation, the iPhone 4S outperforms the Nokia N9, especially in the sharpness and colour reproduction departments. The iPhones shooter is also better at capturing details.

The Nokia N9 performs better in certain low-light and high-contrast conditions but generally the iPhone 4S is better overall.

Some may argue that the iPhone 4S over-saturates colours, while this is true, the result is a generally more rich picture overall, and most can live with that trade-off.

The Nokia N9 is a conundrum. On one side you have this innovative three-pillar UI powered by MeeGo, but on the flip-side Nokia, specifically its CEO Stephen Elop, has pledged allegiance to Microsoft and its Windows Phone platform effectively sealing the fate of MeeGo as the platform that could’ve been.

But enough talk about what could’ve been. The N9 is here now. It’s a tangible device that will soon be released to the world. So let’s focus on the device and not what it represents, and what a delicious device it is — the 8MP camera at least.

Follow the link to see unedited pictures taken using the N9’s 8MP Carl Zeiss optics camera. While our sentiments of this confusing Nokia device remains, we can’t help but be blown away by the performance of the N9’s camera. You have to see it to believe it.

The sample pictures establish Nokia’s leadership position when it comes to engineering cameras in mobile phone that puts to shame some dedicated cameras. There’s no doubt when it comes to hardware, Nokia is just as good as the best of them. But when it comes to strategy, foresight and platform/ecosystem development Nokia (to us at least) looks to be desperately lost.

Full gallery of pictures shot using the Nokia N9 camera can be viewed here.

The Nokia N9 boasts being the fastest image capturing phone in the market today at 2.6 seconds.

Is the N9 really the fastest? Now here’s a video demonstrating the instant photo-taking capabilities of the HTC Sensation. From the lock screen with active shortcuts, the Sensation took 2.39 seconds while from the home screen it took 2.21 seconds. That’s about 0.21-0.39 seconds faster than N9’s claims.

Of course, speed doesn’t necessary mean better quality. However you gotta admit that speed is important when capturing those precious or epic moments in life.